Thanksgiving With Your Dog: Fetch Before the Feast (and What to Keep Off Their Plate)

Thanksgiving is a big day for dogs. The house smells incredible, there are new people to greet, and somebody is definitely going to drop a roll. Tilly, our Chief Fetch Officer, treats the whole day like a sport. Here’s how we keep it fun for her, and safe, from the first throw of the morning to the last bite of pie.

Fetch Before the Feast

The single best thing you can do for your dog (and your dinner) on Thanksgiving morning? Play fetch. A dog who has already run, chased, and sniffed to their heart’s content is far more likely to nap through the meal than to beg at the table or bark at every doorbell.

• Go before the guests arrive. Get outside while the turkey is in the oven, and let your dog run until they slow down on their own.
• Mix in some brain work. Ask for a “sit” or “wait” before each throw. Mental work tires dogs out as much as running does.
• Plan a second session. A quick game after dinner is the perfect excuse for everyone to step away from the table, humans included.

Keep a few spare balls by the door. Someone is bound to throw one into the neighbor’s yard.

What’s Safe to Share

Your dog’s regular food is still the best plan for the day. If you’d like to include them in the celebration, the ASPCA suggests mixing a few small, plain pieces into their usual dinner:

• Turkey that’s boneless, skinless, and fully cooked
• Sweet potato, plain, without butter, sugar, or marshmallows
• Green beans, plain, before they become a casserole

Keep portions small. Rich food is a lot for a dog’s stomach, even when it’s safe.

What to Keep Off Their Plate

These are the ones the ASPCA warns about most:

• Turkey bones. Cooked poultry bones are a major choking hazard.
• Raw or undercooked turkey, which can carry salmonella.
• Skin, gravy, and other fatty foods. High-fat food can trigger pancreatitis in dogs.
• Onions and garlic, which hide in stuffing, gravy, and sides and can be toxic to pets.
• Bouillon and stock cubes. They’re very high in sodium.
• Raw yeast dough. It can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol as it ferments.
• Chocolate and xylitol. Keep pies, cookies, and sugar-free desserts well out of reach.

Hosting With a Dog in the House

• Make a quiet zone. A bedroom with their bed, water, and a favorite toy gives your dog somewhere to decompress when the house gets loud.
• Brief your guests. Ask everyone (especially kids) not to slip food under the table, and to keep purses and medications up and out of reach.
• Take out the trash. A carcass in the kitchen trash is the ultimate temptation. Empty it often, or keep it behind a closed door.
• Watch the front door. With guests coming and going, it’s easy for a dog to slip out. Make sure their ID tags are on.
• Check your centerpieces. Some holiday plants and flowers are toxic to pets. The ASPCA keeps a list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Thanksgiving Fetch Games for the Whole Family

Give the kids a job (and the dog a workout) with a little backyard tradition:

1. The Turkey Trot Relay. Line up the family and take turns throwing. Whoever’s ball the dog brings back first gets first pick of pie.
2. Hide-and-Sniff. Hide a few tennis balls around the yard while your dog waits inside, then let them hunt.
3. The Gratitude Toss. Before each throw, say one thing you’re thankful for. Your dog will be thankful for every single throw.

Shopping for the dog lover on your list? A pack of Bark Balls is a gift their dog will actually use, and every ball is a retired tennis ball that stays in play instead of heading to a landfill.

Frequently Asked Questions

From our pack to yours: Happy Thanksgiving. We’re thankful for every club, school, tournament, and player who sends us their retired balls, and for every dog who gives them another throw.